I don't know Andrew--if we can't handle getting in gear on time, do you
think you can trust us to drive clutchless?

As a former bus driver, I just keep an eye on the cross light.  When it goes
yellow, I get in gear.  Keeps my throw out bearing happy, and keeps those of
us who drink too much coffee happy as well.  <g>

tx,
bmc  :)

Ben McCafferty
ben@volkscafe.com

Volks Cafe
1823 Soquel Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA  95062
831-426-1244
http://www.volkscafe.com

> From: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
> Reply-To: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
> Date: Sun, 15 Dec 2002 12:51:00 +1300
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Photo ticket at stop lights
>
>>> Neutral at lights? A VERY bad habit. Almost inavitably causes those
>>> waiting behind to miss the green light.
>>
>> Obviously an individual opinion. No problem for me whether I'm first in line
>> or further back, to get into gear and be off. Easy to anticipate the flow in
>> the cross direction and get into gear or be on the way to doing it when my
>> light goes green. I think too many people do something other than "drive"
>> when they are on the road, the ignition on. Paying attention makes a big
>> difference, Driving is a full time job, I think, but not that difficult if I
>> just pay attention.
>
> Problem is, most don't. You can see them getting into gear AFTER the
> light turns green. These particular folk are roadhogs.
>
>> I have always shifted into neutral at a stoplight in all my manual
>> transmission vw's... it's a hold over from the old T2 days when I was taught
>> that holding in the clutch would wear out the clutch cable faster (they wore
>> out fast enough asit was).
>
> My 66 T1 worked fine without a clutch when the cable broke... drove
> it to work for a couple of weeks like that.
>
>> so the habit was established long ago and I
>> still do it.  no problem slipping her into first when the light changes or
>> just before.  I think you'd have to be pretty inept to fumble around with
>> the stick long enough to seriously hold up traffic.
>
> Most drivers ARE inept. And with short-period light, even a second
> can mean you miss the green.
>
> As far as throwout bearings are concerned, that shouldn't be the
> other drivers' problem...
> --
> Andrew Grebneff
> 165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
> <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
> Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut